Jazzin Magazine Interview: Charlie Sepulveda
Jazzin: When was your first experience?
CS: I played in the Big Bands at school. There we played some jazz. But professionally I started when I was 15, playing Salsa. I worked with Chamaco Rivera and Willie Rosario. I also was part of Batacumbele, when Juancito Torres could not play I was his substitute. From there I went to the Apollo Sound.
When I was around 18 I started playing with Bobby Valentin. That was my Alma Mater in terms of orchestras.
Jazzin: Did you recorded with those orchestras?
Yes. I recorded with Chamaco, with La Masacre, with the Apollo, with Raphy Levitt and with Bobby.
Jazzin: Tell me about your beginnings in music.
Charlie Sepulveda: I started in music by chance. I was accompanying Juancito Torres nephew, who played trumpet and another guy who played saxophone to the Escuela Libre de Música in Caguas. When I was there, the school Director asked me if I wanted to play an instrument. I say yes, and at the end the other two guys quit and I continued playing trumpet. I was 12 then.